Harlan E. Bruer

Friday

Dec 21, 2012 at 11:16 AMDec 21, 2012 at 11:18 AM

Harlan E. Bruer, 93, of Pontiac, passed away at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, at his rural residence. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the McDowell Methodist Church with Pastor Donna Baker officiating. Burial will be at Patty Cemetery with military rites accorded. Friends may call for one hour before the service at the church. Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home in Pontiac has charge of arrangements.Harlan was born April 24, 1919, in Pontiac, the son of Calistus and Anna (Brinkman) Bruer. He married Laura Perteit Sept. 19, 1942, in Charleston, S.C. She survives in Pontiac.He is also survived by one daughter, Mary McGuire, Crystal Lake; and two sons, William (Jari) Bruer and David Bruer, both of Pontiac; three grandchildren, Elizabeth (Todd) Stelter, Shanna (Marcus) Hess and Laura (Steve) Weatherford; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceeded in death by his son-in-law, Murray McGuire.He attended a one-room school, Pontiac Township High School and graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Agricultural Economics in 1941, and was a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.During World War II, Harlan served as a cryptographer in the Army Air Corps and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, serving for 32 months in the Gold Coast of Africa.Upon return from military service, he started farming. During his life, he was involved with many organizations and community boards. He served on Owego Township Boards, Republican Precinct Committeeman, 4-H leader, Owego Grade School and Pontiac Township High School boards, Livingston County Farm Bureau Board, Livingston TB Board, Livingston County Mental Health Board and was the first president of the Pontiac Rural Fire District. He also served as a Lieutenant Governor of the Kiwanis District and was a 60-year member of the Pontiac Kiwanis Club. Harlan also was a long-time member of the American Legion and the University of Illinois Alumni Association.Harlan had been a member of the First Presbyterian Church for more than 55 years and served as a deacon and trustee. Recently, he joined the McDowell Methodist Church.He was very proud of the fact that he farmed the original ground that was homesteaded by his ancestors in 1833. He also instilled in the future generations the love of the land and the history of the farm that he hoped would continue for many generations.Memorials may be made to the McDowell Methodist Church or OSF Hospice.Online condolences may be made to the family at duffyfuneralhome.com.